LONDON: Princess Kate recently shared a touching moment with Liz Hatton, a 17-year-old terminal cancer patient, during an emotional visit to Windsor Castle. Liz, diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in January, revealed the details of her conversation with the Princess of Wales in an interview with The Times.
Liz, a budding photographer, had made headlines when her photography bucket list went viral on social media, prompting an invitation to photograph an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on October 2.
She was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and given an uncertain life expectancy of six months to three years. Despite her diagnosis, Liz remains determined to live life to the fullest and accomplish as many of her dreams as possible.
Recalling her surprise meeting with Prince William and Princess Kate, Liz shared: “When we got there, we were told that the prince would say a quick hello. So I thought, OK, you’d be like, ‘Hi,’ and then that would be it. But then we were sitting in the little area on the sofa, and all of a sudden they just walked in, and we were like, ‘Oh!’”
During their conversation, Liz and the Princess of Wales bonded over their shared love of photography, with Kate showing genuine interest in the teenager’s hobby. They spoke about different types of camera lenses, a subject Liz is particularly passionate about. As a special touch, Liz was invited to visit the palace kitchens to ensure they prepared her favorite dessert—lemon drizzle cake.
Liz reflected on her cancer journey and her bucket list, explaining that she once felt the list was unattainable. “I told Mum the bucket list was useless. Who would ever let me do any of this?” she said. But after her dreams began to come true, Liz embraced her diagnosis with grace and resilience.
“It is uncertain how long I have, how long I’ll live. But it is certain that it won’t be for a long time,” Liz added. “And so because of that, I feel like the only thing you can do is do as much as possible, as much as possible of what you want to do and what you enjoy. And to spend it with the people you love.”
The royal encounter left Liz deeply moved. She said that meeting Prince William and Princess Kate made her feel “very honored.”
